Quick Neutral/Neon Polka Dot Mani

I figured I probably shouldn't do ANOTHER gradient even if I love them to death, so I went another direction.  I was gifted a nail dotting tool by one of my friends so I figured I'd give that a shot.  I've been using toothpicks for the past, I dunno, 26 years when I need to make dots on my nails, so I thought the dotting tool would just make it that much easier.  Lo and behold, I kinda suck at nail dotting tools.  I am sooo not used to it- but I think this is just going to be one of those practice makes perfect deals.

Products Used:
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Wet Cement
China Glaze Sunshine Pop
China Glaze Fuchsia Fanatic

Another Gradient- Creamsicle

I loved the last one so much that I did another one!  I asked the fiance "brights or pastels?" and he said pastels, so I chose some lighter-but still summery- colors.  My dad said it looks like a creamsicle, and the waitress when we had dinner said she loved my nails and asked to see them- so I think I would call this a success!  Officially in love with the idea of gradient manicures now.

Products Used:

China Glaze Peachy Keen

Essie Borrowed & Blue

Tropical Brights Gradient

Every now and then I get into a super rut with my nails.  Usually when I'm super stressed out about something.  This one started with our move, and hasn't ended yet.  With moving in, unpacking, applying for jobs, having job interviews... My nails have really taken a beating.  As have my poor cuticles.  In these times of crisis, there's really only one way to get myself back on top of my game- I have to spend a long time doing something cool with my nails (here is just one example).  Normally I try to do something freehand, or water marble.  It's time consuming and (usually) looks pretty awesome, and knowing that I spent a lot of time and effort on a certain design is the ONLY thing that can override my need to nibble when I'm stressed.  So this morning I spent two hours (yup) doing my nails with a pretty sweet, tropical bright gradient mani.  It took so long because I used a white base coat first, and then redid my entire left hand because I didn't like the way it turned out.  Plus, cleanup was just awful.  But anyway, enough with the words and the sad stories- onto the pics!

I really needed these brights today- you can see the 

rain droplets in the picture!

Products Used:

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White Out (basecoat)

Orly Fabulous Flamingo

Zoya America

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Sun Kissed

4th of July mani for the beach

Me and the fiance and the fam are headed to the ocean this week.  I figure this mani won't last all the way till the 4th, but I'll bring polish to do another one when it chips off.  I thought this turned out pretty cute- like a little soldier's outfit or something.  For last year's mani check out this link.

Products Used:

Zoya America

Revlon Royal

LA Colors Art Deco in White

Orly Ingenue and Alabaster Verve

I recently posted a swatch of Orly's Alabaster Verve.  I don't have a lot of Orly polish in my collection, so when I was at the store I went ahead and got myself three bottles.  I also purchased Ingenue, when was labelled with a little "new" ring around it but really isn't new- it's from the winter/holiday collection.  It is a pink based loaded up with tiny, shimmery gold glitter.  It is also basically identical to a bunch of other polishes floating around, but I don't own any of those and this was on sale so into my bin it went, and onto my fingers.  I love it layered over Alabaster Verve.  This is two coasts AV and one coat of Ingenue with Seche Vite as a top coat.

I'm really not a fan of gold.  I'm much more of a silver/white gold person as far as personal taste goes.  However, my skin tone disagrees- gold looks pretty great on me (if I do say so myself, heeey!).  I love this color with my skin tone!  

I'm back! And on East Coast time!

Our adventure is over, we are all moved in.  My nails are little nubbins (surprise surprise) after a whole ton of stressful events but I'm trying to get myself back on track.  Once my crafting space is all set up, I'll be able to get some nail polish racks up and going and then we will really be in business.  For now, just a quick swatch of a new (to me) color.

This is Orly's Alabaster Verve.  It's a perfect dusty pink and it has a hint of silvery shimmer.  It's perfect for work without being boring.

My ridges are pretty bad, huh?

Lovely!  

Movin Mani- Metallic Purple Vintage Plate

Maybe I mentioned this before... I can't quite remember... but fiance and I are moving!  We are heading across the country from lovely Oregon where I've been going to school for the past 3.5 years to my hometown in Maryland.  We head off on Saturday morning to drive across with our dog. It's going to be an adventure for sure, and while I packed the majority of my nail polish a few weeks ago, I kept my favorites until the very end... and just packed them today.  But have no fear, I kept out a select few bottles... and my stamping plates... for the drive!  

We packed the computers today, so please bear with me and my iPhone pics that will simply have to do for the next ~1.5 weeks.  Also I packed these bottles... doh.... so once again we have me making my very best Claw hand.  And I also don't remember the name of one of the polishes or which plate number I used.  Useless, I know, but I thought this design was cute so I just had to share anyway.

This design reminds me of vintage china plates that my grandmother has.  I think my mom might have them in blue... but I used metallic purple and I think it looks lovely!  

icky dry cuticles, yuck yuck yuck!!

Products Used:

OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls

China Glaze (ack I forgot!!!)